Ireland and Leinster star Johnny Sexton is no stranger to the healthy lifestyle expected of a professional sports star. Fitness and wellbeing are priorities both on and off the pitch, and with two kids under four and another one on the way, staying active turns into a family affair.
This month, the fly-half teamed up with laya healthcare for the launch of Super Troopers, Ireland's only 'Heath Homework' programme.
The exciting initiative is currently running in almost half of the country's primary schools with 238,000 children, 162,000 families and 15,000 teachers taking part this year.
Speaking about the programme, the dad-of-two said: "It's making homework a bit of fun. They've got to write down what they put in their lunch box and they get graded on how healthy their lunch."
"It's great for the parents. They have to be held a little bit accountable as well. I'm lucky that I finish my days quite early so I get to spend a lot of time at home with the kids whereas a lot of parents wouldn't."
The free programme encourages families to treat health and wellbeing with the same importance as traditional homework and features fun, short-burst activities that prompt children to get moving for at least 10-15 minutes at a time, building towards the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Having always been active as a child, Johnny recognises the importance of making sure children stay active.
"I was very lucky. I grew up going to the rugby clubs at the weekend, so it was always part of my life thankfully," he told MummyPages.
As well as fitness and nutrition, Super Troopers also highlights the value of practising mindfulness from a young age.
"I would never have been exposed to mindfulness as a young kid. It's something I've only been exposed to in the past few years and it's something that the Irish rugby team are starting to do and have got great benefits from," Johnny explained.
"Being involved in this campaign has definitely helped me learn how to teach kids how to be mindful. Having done it myself over the past few years I thought it was something that was only for adults.
"It's something that I'll probably try and do with my two at home. It's so easy, you can do it with them so young... Just even going for a walk, going to the park, getting out - it's as much for our sanity as it is for the kids."
Johnny and wife Laura are expecting their third child this August, and while the couple recently discovered the gender of baby-number-three, they are keeping it to themselves for the time being.
"Some of friends and family don't even know yet!," he admitted.
"Three under the age of four - well four, two and ... zero. I'm looking forward to it. It's probably a good time, y'know there's no matches on so I'll be able to be a bit hands-on."
The couple are already parents to Luca, four, and Amy, two, and while you might expect them to follow in their father's footsteps, Johnny says he's happy with whatever route they choose to take.
"I'm happy with whatever route they take, I'm not going to push them into it. At the moment Luca has very little interest in sports - he's more interested in rescue bots and transformers.
"I'm sure when his mates start to play and he goes to big school he'll maybe take to a sport but I have any preference as to which he chooses. But if he did play rugby it wouldn't bother me."
"I think Amy could be a better rugby player anyway," he laughed.
The Super Troopers programme aims to instil healthier behaviours and attitudes among young children and their families, behaviours that will positively serve them into adulthood. Its holistic approach, covers three pillars; physical health, emotional wellbeing and nutrition, meaning that you and your little ones can enjoy healthier overall lifestyles.
Here's a sample of some Super Trooper activities you can try out at home:
Musical Sprints (A favourite in the Sexton household!): Play Musical Sprints on your own, or with others. Put on your favourite music and jog slowly around. When the music stops sprint around the space until the music starts again. Play for 10 minutes
Centipede Shuffle: make a bridge with your hands and feet on the floor. Walk your feet into your hands and then your hands away from your feet. Now, walk the length of the room or garden and then turn around and go back.
Aeroplanes Away: stand with your arms outstretched like an aeroplane. Bend forward from your waist and stretch your right leg backwards balancing on your left leg. Balance for 10 seconds, then repeat with your left leg.
7-Days Happy Challenge: draw or write down something that made you happy every day for a week.
